Coimbatore was long important for its command of the Palghat Gap through the Western Ghats to the western Malabar Coast. There is evidence of extensive prehistoric occupation in the region. Until the 9th century ce it was an autonomous territory known as Kongu Nad, but it was later conquered by Vijayanagar, Muslim, and British rulers. The Bhoodan (“Land-Gift”) movement for the redistribution of land to the landless peasants began in the Coimbatore region in the 1950s.

CoimbatoreCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.Yamagata Hiroo

The city was long known for its textile production, especially after the industry experienced a boom there in the 1930s. It is now a trade and processing centre for agricultural produce. Its manufactures include agricultural implements and automotive components, and it is a major producer of software, second only to Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore houses agricultural and engineering schools, several colleges affiliated with the University of Madras in Chennai, and an industrial and commercial museum and model centre.

The city’s surrounding region is an important cotton-producing area, and coffee and tea are grown in the hills, in which timber such as teak and sandalwood is also produced. Deposits of limestone, mica, asbestos, and beryl are mined. Pop. (2001) city, 930,882; urban agglom., 1,461,139; (2011) city, 1,050,721; urban agglom., 2,136,916.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher, Senior Editor.